This is part of a series of Hamilton and Wenham, Massachusetts, oral histories of the towns, produced by William Heitz and Edmund Josephs from 1986 through 1995. It was originally taped on January 2, 1990. It was uploaded to the Internet Archive by Sarah Lauderdale, Head of Reference at Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. Our thanks to William Heitz for permission to upload this content to the Internet Archive. Our thanks also to volunteer John Brucker for his description of the interview, included below.
Summary:
Grant Crowell’s Post Cards, Mr. Crowell’s Home, Mr. Crowell’s work career at United Shoe, Changes to the town of Hamilton over time, Evolution of the Smith Block, Cause of the Smith Block fire, Basketball games played between Gloucester and Hamilton on the second floor of the Smith Block, Importance of the smith block and Grange Hall as a gathering place for residents, Stories of Johnny Melanson, Hunting and Fishing stories, evolution of the post office, Presentation of Mr. Crowell’s collection of stamps, Discussion of delivery of mail from Hamilton to Marietta, OH (1787), Visits by famous golfers to Hamilton, Andrew Carnegie’s offer to send Mr. Crowell to college, Interactions with famous people as a golf caddie, Recollections of Asbury Grove as a summer camp, Evolution of the entrance to Asbury Grove, Discussion of camps at Asbury Grove, Asbury Grove Entertainment, Walking trails along Idlewood Lake (early 1900s), picnics, Boating, and dancing on Lake Idlewood (now known as Pleasant Pond) , Important Homes of Hamilton, Collection of Asbury Postcards, Setting the record straight on Harry Durham, Post cards of historic homes and landmarks
Keywords:
The following names and terms were used in this interview: Grant Crowell, Hamilton, South School, United Shoe, machinist, railroad avenue, smith block, post office, Grange Hall, Dr. King, Old Fashioned Dancing, mothers club, minstrel shows, Punch and Judy, Johnny Melanson, bike shop, Idewood Lake, Centennial Grove, entertainment, Truman Carew Orchestra, Mel Hallett, Jim Lewis and the Moonlight Hawaiians, Hunting, Fishing, Post Office, Barnabas Dodge, Hand Stamps, Lucy Larcom, John Greenleaf Whittier, Ohio Trek, Sydni Smith, stamp collecting, golf, Myopia Hunt Club, William K Vanderbilt, Paul Moore, Andrew Carnegie, T. Jefferson Coolidge, Asbury Grove, Electric Cars, Mudge Ave, Bates Library, Tabernacle, Swedish Church, Preacher’s Stand, The Pines, Asbury St, Harry Durham, Asbury Grove Fire, Gail Hamlin House, Pacsh House, Green Meadows Farm, George Vaugh L Myer House, Augustus P. Gardener, Congregational Church, Town Hall, Schools, Blotters
